[SML] The more things change...

[Pat Kight]

Bill Conner via Stagecraft wrote:
>
> I love the unintended consequences of that kind of action.
>
Me, too.

In 1988 I directed a production of "Inherit the Wind" staged in the 
local county courthouse as part of its Centennial celebration - grand 
old building, and a judge surrendered one of the courtrooms to us (and 
let us install bleacher seating over the wooden pew-style courtroom 
seats) for a few weeks. Pre show, I had actors all over the building as 
if en route to the Scopes "monkey trial" - including the fire & 
brimstone preacher and his sign-toting congregants.

Imagine my delight when a local fundamentalist sect showed up on opening 
night to hand out leaflets - probably written in the 1930s, from the 
looks of them - protesting "Darwinism". The actors wanted to engage 
them, and I told them they had to do it in character, as if these were 
members of their own community, or not at all. It was all so convincing 
that many audience members were convinced the actual protestors were 
part of the cast. (I'm sure they walked away confused, but nobody 
insulted them or treated them disrespectfully, and I was pretty happy 
about that, too.)

And yes, when the local paper reported it, we saw a spike in ticket sales.

-- 
Pat Kight
kightp at peak.org